Helpful maps direct readers to every azalea, camellia, and magnolia from Afton Villa Gardens in St. Francisville to Zemurray Gardens in Loranger.

East Feliciana and West Feliciana Parishes in Louisiana contain some of the finest examples of antebellum architecture in the country. Before the Civil War, wealthy planters of the region competed with each other to build the most spectacular houses and the most elaborate gardens. Though war and neglect have done their damage, many of the magnificent houses remain, shaded by towering live oak trees and surrounded by broad lawns and lush gardens. Now, master photographer Paul Malone captures the startling beauty of the old homes of the Felicianas in a series of dazzling color pictures, while Lee Malone tells the fascinating stories of the houses in The Majesty of the Felicianas . Some 175 beautiful color photographs reveal the marvellous architecture of the buildings, devoting special attention to the restored interiors and elegant furnishings. More than thirty stately homes are presented, including Asphodel, Live Oak, Wildwood, Parlange, and Rosale. This book can be used both as a guide for visitors to the Felicianas, and as a book for connoisseurs of fine architecture.

The book includes histories and descriptions of such splendid gardens as: Longue Vue and Rosedown Hodges.

Genevieve Trimble's remarkable story of Afton Villa began with a tragedy. In 1963, fire ravaged the forty-room Victorian Gothic plantation home on the historic estate, bringing to ashes over 170 years of history. Over the next decade, its once-regal serpentine entryway and carefully laid out gardens gradually deteriorated, as vines strangled the rows of azaleas that once welcomed guests. A place of enchantment crumbled toward extinction. The irreversible loss of Afton Villa's once pristine nineteenth-century gardens and carefully built stately home did, however, inspire Trimble to seize the opportunity to protect the derelict property from oblivion and she and her husband purchased the estate in 1972. This ambitious move initiated a forty-year regeneration of one of the most treasured and legendary gardens in Louisiana. Afton Villa documents Trimble's decades-long restoration project while providing a history of the original owners and paying tribute to the other people who contributed to its rebirth. Focusing on preservation, Trimble reveals how the garden's original footprint survived as well as how she thoughtfully introduced new flora into the terraced landscape, including the foundation ruins of the house, under the guidance of landscape architect Neil G. Odenwald. With steep learning curves and devastating setbacks, including hurricane destruction, each milestone in the recovery of Afton Villa marked a triumph of collaborative will over adversity. Hundreds of visitors every year journey to St. Francisville to enjoy the result of Trimble's arduous and rewarding efforts. The moss-draped oaks welcome them to a rolling vista of daffodils, cherry trees, and a boxwood parterre as well as hundreds of other features in this thirty-five-acre garden. With a vivid narrative and beautiful images, Afton Villa: The Birth and Rebirth of a Nineteenth-Century Louisiana Garden captures the story of this remarkable restoration.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

If my story is not told, the history of Notable People of Color will forever be excluded in the history of St. Francisville, La. My presentation may be offensive to some; however, I have chosen to present what has been left out of the many books written by local authors and historians to include the contributions, perspectives, and historical facts regarding Notable People of Color in St. Francisville. It is my intention to share this wealth of information for the sake of inclusion for future generations to follow. During my youth in St. Francisville, People of Color experienced racism at its highest. This book is an attempt to tell the story that although People of Color experienced racism and an educational system of separate and unequal; this did not deter us from moving forward. It was with our dedication to pursue higher education that we, People of Color, moved forward to create excellence both within and beyond the small town of St. Francisville. It is my hope that those who read “Notable People of Color - St. Francisville, La” will understand that my journey was typical of many of my classmates. We were resilient throughout our experiences, and we remained steadfast while enjoying wholesome and rewarding outcomes. Our family and spiritual training received will forever be with us. May Notable People of Color and their contributions forever be included in the history of St. Francisville, and West Feliciana Parish. —Dr. Henry Hardy Author of Notable People of Color - St. Francisville, Louisiana